Foldable travelling case

ABSTRACT

A foldable travelling case includes a case body, two support plates and four zippers. The case body has two opposite first side walls and two opposite second walls. The support plates are respectively abutted against the first side walls of the case body. The zippers are disposed between one of the support plates and one of the second side walls to interconnect the support plates and the second side walls. When the zippers are unzipped, the first and second side walls of the case body can be folded to reduce the volume of the travelling case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a travelling case, and more specifically to a travelling case that is foldable to save its storage space.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to enjoy high quality in tourism, travelers usually prepare enough travel items for contingent use, and thus a travelling case can be used to store the travel items for enhancing the convenience of the travelers.

As far as the travelers are concerned, the travelling case must provide enough storage space to store a large number of the travel items, and the larger capacity the travelling case provides, the greater volume the travelling case has. However, the travelling case generally has an unchangeable volume because it usually includes an inflexible housing such that the travelling case having a great volume will occupy large space when it is in storage. Therefore, it is a need to provide an improved travelling case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-noted circumstances. It is one objective of the present invention to provide a travelling case that is foldable to occupy less space when it is in storage.

To achieve this objective of the present invention, the travelling case comprises a case body, two support plates and four zippers. The case body includes a bottom base and a top base having two opposite first side walls and two opposite second walls. The first and second side walls are connected with a periphery of the bottom base to respectively define a fold line with the bottom base such that the first and second side walls can be folded along the fold lines and rested at a folded position. The support plates each have a bottom side pivotally connected with one of the first side walls of the top base such that each support plate is leanable against one of the first side walls of the top base for supporting the first side walls at an extended position. The zippers are respectively disposed between one of the support plates and one of the second side walls to interconnect the support plates and the second side walls.

By means of unzipping the zippers, the support plates can be folded to allow the first and second side walls of the top base to be folded toward the bottom base to the folded position, enabling the travelling case of the present invention to reduce its volume and save its storage space.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a travelling case according to a first preferred embodiment of the prevent invention, showing that the first and second side walls of the top base stand at an extended position;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the travelling case according to the first preferred embodiment of the prevent invention, showing the covers are lifted;

FIG. 3 is still another perspective view of the travelling case according to the first preferred embodiment of the prevent invention, showing the support plates are folded;

FIG. 4 is still another perspective view of the travelling case according to the first preferred embodiment of the prevent invention, showing the first and second side walls of the top base are folded and rested at a folded position, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the travelling case according to a second preferred embodiment of the prevent invention, showing the lid and the bottom base of the case body are bound together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a travelling case 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a case body 20, two support plates 30, four zippers 40, and two covers 50.

The case body 20 includes a bottom base 22, a top base 24, and a lid 26. The bottom base 22 can be placed on the ground, and equipped with a pull rod assembly 221 therein. The top base 24 has two opposite first side walls 242, two second side walls 244, and a bottom wall 246. The first side walls 242 and the second side walls 244 are connected with a periphery of the bottom base 22 to respectively define a fold line 25 such that the first side walls 242 and the second side walls 244 can be folded relative to the bottom base 22 along the fold lines 25. The bottom wall 246 has a periphery connected with the first side walls 242 and the second side walls 244 to define a space 60 for accommodation of items. The lid 26 includes a connection portion 264, and a top plate 262. The connection portion 264 has two opposite sides respectively connected with one of the first side walls 242 of the top base 20 and the top plate 262 for allowing the top plate 262 to be capped on the top base 24 and connected to the top base 24 through a zipper 266.

The support plates 30 each have a bottom side pivotally connected with a bottom side of one of the first side walls 242 such that the support plates 30 can be foldable between a folded position where the support plates 30 are rested on the bottom wall 246 of the top base 24 as shown in FIG. 3 and an extended position where the support plates 30 are respectively abutted against the first side wall 242. In addition, the support plates 30 each have three first attachment members 32 at a front side thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the first attachment member 32 is embodied as a hook fastener.

The zippers 40 are respectively located at four corners of the top base 20 in such a way that each of the zippers 40 is disposed between one of the support plates 30 and one of the second side walls 244 to interconnect the support plates 30 and the second side walls 244 when the zippers 40 are zipped up.

The covers 50 each have a top side connected with a top side of one of the first side walls 244 of the top base 24 such that the support plates 30 can be exposed when the covers 50 are lifted, and three second attachment members 52 at a back side thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the second attachment member 52 is embodied as a loop fastener for attachment of one of the first attachment members 32 of one of the support plates 30. Further, the cover 50 is provided with an internal chamber (not shown) and equipped with a zipper 54 to open or close the internal chamber such that the cover 50 functions as a bag for accommodation of items.

To fold the travelling case 10 when it is not in use, a user can lift the covers 50 to force the second attachment members 52 of the covers 50 to be detached from the first attachment members 32 of the support plates 30, as shown in FIG. 2, and then unzip the zippers 40 to disconnect the support plates 30 from the second side walls 244 of the top base 24, allowing the support plates 30 to be folded by the user and laid on the bottom wall 246, as shown in FIG. 3, and then enabling the first and second side walls 242 and 244 to be folded toward the bottom base 22 along the fold lines 25 and rested on the bottom base 22 at a folded position, as shown in FIG. 4. Finally, the user can put the lid 26 over the first and second side walls 242 and 244 to complete the folding work of the travelling case 10 of the present invention.

To extend the travelling case 10, the user can lift the lid 26 to extend the first and second side walls 242 and 244 of the top base 24, and then lift the support plates 30 to lean against the first side walls 242. Thereafter, the user can zip up the zippers 40 to interconnect the support plates 30 and the second side walls 244 such that the support plates 30 can uphold the first side walls 242 to keep the first and second side walls 242 and 244 of the top base 24 in an extended position, and then the user can attach the covers 50 to the support plates 30 through the attachment between the first and second attachment members 32 and 52. Accordingly, the user can put travel items in the space 60 or the chamber of the covers 50, and close the space 60 or the chamber by zipping up the zippers 266 and 54 after packing.

As indicated above, the travelling case of the present invention can be reduced its volume when it is in storage through the zippers and the foldable support plates.

To deserve to be mentioned, as shown in FIG. 2, a hook and loop fastener 70 can be provided between the bottom wall 246 and each of the support plates 30 for connecting the bottom wall 246 and the support plates 30 with each others, and a hook and loop fastener 72 can be equipped between each of the support plates 30 and the corresponding one of the first side walls 242 for enhancing the structural strength of the support plates 30. Further, the covers 50 can be eliminated according the actual needs.

FIG. 5 shows a travelling case 80 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, further comprising a strap 82 extending from two wing portions 84 of the lid 86 for binding the lid 86 and the bottom base 88 of the case body 90 together when the first and second side walls of the top base are folded.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A foldable travelling case comprising: a case body having a bottom base and a top base with two opposite first side walls and two opposite second walls, the first and second side walls being connected with a periphery of the bottom base to respectively define a fold line with the bottom base such that the first and second side walls are foldable along the fold lines; two support plates each having a bottom side pivotally connected with one of the first side walls of the top base such that each of the support plates is leanable against one of the first side walls of the top base for supporting the first side walls; and four zippers each disposed between one of the support plates and one of the second side walls to interconnect the support plates and the second side walls.
 2. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover detachably connectable to one of the support plates and having a top side connected with one of the first side walls of the top base.
 3. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the one of the support plates, to which the cover is detachably connectable, has a first attachment member, and the cover has a second attachment member attached to the first attachment member.
 4. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top base includes a bottom wall having a periphery connected with the first and second side walls and connected to each of the support plates through a hook and loop fastener.
 5. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the support plates is attached to one of the first side walls through a hook and loop fastener.
 6. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case body includes a lid capped on the top base and connectable to the top base through a zipper; the foldable travelling case further comprising a strap for binding the lid and the bottom base.
 7. The foldable travelling case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the strap extends from two wing portions of the lid. 